RE: Appraiser Agreement Package

RE: Appraiser Agreement Package

________________________________________________________________________

Please find enclosed paperwork requiring your prompt attention. Our approval process

begins once your completed package is received by Our Vendor Management Team. The

following items are required:

__ Appraiser Agreement

(2 pages signed and dated)

__ Copy of your current License/Certification

__ Copy of your Errors and Omissions Insurance Policy

__ Copy of completed W-9

Upon completion please email to:

[email protected]

, Fax 1-866-588-1687

Or send via U.S. Mail to:

Nationwide Valuation Solutions

10211 North 32

Street, Suite A6

Phoenix, AZ 85028

Thanks,

Appraiser Information

Print Name: ___________________________ _______ (Last, First, MI)

Lic/Cert #: _______________________Issuing State: ______________

Number of Years Licensed/Certified: _______________

Typical fee for basic 1004 in your area: $_____ _ ______

Your most competitive fee for basic 1004: $__ _______ _

Coverage Area (

Counties

): ______________________________________________

Appraiser Agreement

Agreement:

This is an agreement between the following parties: Nationwide Valuation

Solutions, LLC (NVS) and _________________________________________ (Appraiser).

This Agreement is the basis for a working relationship with regard to Appraisal and/or Review

Services specifying your responsibilities as an Appraiser. In this capacity, you shall serve as an

Independent Contractor providing professional residential appraisal services to NVS per the terms

specified in this agreement, each Order and Appraiser Letter of Engagement. This agreement

does not imply a minimum number of requests to you and assignments will be given at the

discretion of NVS. It is our goal to provide the highest level of service to our Clients and

understand that we must work together to achieve this goal. Your duties under this agreement

shall include, but not limited to the following:

Service Requests:

Requests will be delivered to Appraiser via email the email address specified in your Profile. It is

expected that acceptance of an assignment will be within 24 hours of NVS sending you the

request or sooner. Appraiser will maintain an up to date online Profile at all times.

Scheduling and System Updates:

Appraiser should make every effort to schedule the inspection within 24 hours of assignment

acceptance and updating NVS’s system with the confirmed time and day your inspection is

scheduled for.

Expertise:

As an Appraiser, you are the professional and we expect you to have the expertise required for

each assignment you accept. You agree that you will not accept any appraisal assignment for

which you are not competent in all respects, including experience, licensing/certification level,

and familiarity with the geographic area of the subject property.

Appraiser License/Certification and Errors and Omissions:

Appraiser is required to maintain a License/Certification and Errors and Omissions Insurance

Policy (minimum liability limit of $500,000 per claim and $1,000,000 aggregate for all claims)

while contracted with NVS. All renewal documents will be forwarded to NVS no later than 15

days prior to expiration. You are required to notify NVS immediately with any changes in prior

acts or retroactive dates, cancellation and suspension via email at:

[email protected]

Guidelines/Appraisal Practices:

Appraiser is expected to submit reports compliant with USPAP requirements in addition to fully

understanding and incorporating FNMA and FHA (if FHA Approved) guidelines (if applicable)

into all reports submitted to NVS. Specific Lender requirements will be identified within each

Appraisal Request or Appraiser Letter of Engagement. Although common in practice, every

effort should be made to bracket the subject’s features and locational aspects. In addition, any

“across the board adjustments” require a detailed explanation in the event they cannot be avoided.

Appraisal Fees:

NVS agrees to pay Appraiser fees stated within each order (less $5.00 upload fee) within 30 days

or as required by State Law. Appraiser agrees not to charge or invoice any party other than NVS

for services provided. Except as required by law, Appraiser shall not communicate or discuss

with any third party appraisal fees paid for assignments without prior written consent of NVS.

Standard Appraisal Submission:

All reports are to include (but not limited to) the following:

FNMA Form (

current available version and UAD as applicable

)

Subject and Comp Photos

Subject Sketch

Plat, Location and Flood Maps

Market Conditions Form (1004MC)

Special Note: No invoice is to be included in any report submitted to NVS.

Product Turn Times (Typical):

Interior products: 4-5 business days expected

Exterior Products: 3 business days expected

Appraisal corrections: 1 business day expected

Delay Notifications:

Delay notifications are made online immediately upon Appraiser knowledge and should occur no

later than 48 hours prior to the scheduled due date for the assignment.

Delivery:

Appraiser is to deliver all reports to NVS on or before the specified due date (within 48

hours of inspection is preferred) in an XML format. Each request submitted to NVS must pass

quality checks prior to final delivery to our Clients. Requests failing this check will be returned

requesting correction of specified items. All corrections will be received within 24 hours of

notification or sooner.

Communications and Reconsiderations of Value:

Appraiser shall direct all communications concerning Appraiser’s services performed under this

Agreement to NVS for resolution. Appraiser acknowledges that resolution may require further

analysis or written response from the Appraiser and agrees such analysis is part of the Scope of

Work agreed to in connection with each assignment and will be provided at no additional charge.

Order Processing Fee (Uploading):

Appraiser acknowledges a $5.00 charge is assessed for uploading reports as a one-time fee per

order. The fee will be deducted from your gross Appraisal Fee (Example: $300.00 - $5.00 =

$295.00) and paid by NVS.

Confidentiality and Privacy:

Appraiser will maintain confidentiality and privacy of all Client and Consumer information

obtained during the course of performing appraisal services as well as any “nonpublic personal

information” about “customers” and “consumers” as defined in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

State Violations:

Appraiser is required to notify NVS of any Pending State Investigations or Lawsuits immediately

upon service.

Ineligible Lists & State Investigation or Lawsuit

*Are you currently on any lender ineligible lists?

Yes / No

If yes, indicate lender’s name(s):____________________________________________________

*Pending or current State Investigation or Lawsuit?

Yes / No

______________________________________________________________________________

Appraiser Acceptance:

Yes, I agree to the terms above. You have the option of “accepting with conditions” (at the

time of order), with a detailed explanation required, if a different due date and/or fee is

warranted/requested.

Name (

): ___________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________ Date: _______________

Address: ________________________________________________________

City: ________________________ State: _____ Zip Code: __________

Form

W-9

Request for Taxpayer

Identification Number and Certification

Give Form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS.

Print or type

See

Specific Instructions

on page 2.

Name (as shown on your income tax return)

Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above Check appropriate box for federal tax classification:

Individual/sole proprietor C Corporation S Corporation Partnership Trust/estate

Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (C=C corporation, S=S corporation, P=partnership) ▶

Other (see instructions) ▶

Exempt payee

Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.) City, state, and ZIP code

Requester’s name and address (optional)

List account number(s) here (optional)

Part I

Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on the “Name” line to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the Part I instructions on page 3. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a

TIN on page 3.

Note. If the account is in more than one name, see the chart on page 4 for guidelines on whose

number to enter.

Social security number

– –

Employer identification number

–

Part II

Certification

Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:

1. The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me), and

2. I am not subject to backup withholding because: (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding, and

3. I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below).

Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding

because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage

interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and

generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the

instructions on page 4.

Sign

Here

General Instructions

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.

Purpose of Form

A person who is required to file an information return with the IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) to report, for example, income paid to you, real estate transactions, mortgage interest you paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you made to an IRA.

Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN to the person requesting it (the requester) and, when applicable, to:

1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued),

2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or

3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee. If applicable, you are also certifying that as a U.S. person, your allocable share of any partnership income from a U.S. trade or business is not subject to the withholding tax on foreign partners’ share of effectively connected income.

Note. If a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request

your TIN, you must use the requester’s form if it is substantially similar

to this Form W-9.

Definition of a U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you are

considered a U.S. person if you are:

• An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, • A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, • An estate (other than a foreign estate), or

• A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7).

Special rules for partnerships. Partnerships that conduct a trade or

business in the United States are generally required to pay a withholding

tax on any foreign partners’ share of income from such business.

Further, in certain cases where a Form W-9 has not been received, a

partnership is required to presume that a partner is a foreign person,

and pay the withholding tax. Therefore, if you are a U.S. person that is a

partner in a partnership conducting a trade or business in the United

States, provide Form W-9 to the partnership to establish your U.S.

status and avoid withholding on your share of partnership income.

Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2011) Page

2

establishing its U.S. status and avoiding withholding on its allocable share of net income from the partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States is in the following cases:

• The U.S. owner of a disregarded entity and not the entity,

• The U.S. grantor or other owner of a grantor trust and not the trust, and

• The U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust) and not the beneficiaries of the trust.

Foreign person. If you are a foreign person, do not use Form W-9.

Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 (see Publication 515,

Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities). Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a

nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce

or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax

treaties contain a provision known as a “saving clause.” Exceptions

specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to

continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise

become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes.

If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items:

1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien.

2. The treaty article addressing the income.

3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions.

4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.

5. Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article.

Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if his or her stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on his or her scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption.

If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity not subject to backup withholding, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8.

What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you

must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS a percentage

of such payments. This is called “backup withholding.” Payments that

may be subject to backup withholding include interest, tax-exempt

interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents,

royalties, nonemployee pay, and certain payments from fishing boat

operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup

withholding.

You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return.

Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if:

1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester,

2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the Part II instructions on page 3 for details),

3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN, 4. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only), or

5. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding under 4 above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only).

Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See the instructions below and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9.

Also see Special rules for partnerships on page 1.

Updating Your Information

You must provide updated information to any person to whom you claimed to be an exempt payee if you are no longer an exempt payee and anticipate receiving reportable payments in the future from this person. For example, you may need to provide updated information if you are a C corporation that elects to be an S corporation, or if you no longer are tax exempt. In addition, you must furnish a new Form W-9 if the name or TIN changes for the account, for example, if the grantor of a grantor trust dies.

Penalties

Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a

requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure

unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect. Civil penalty for false information with respect to withholding. If you

make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no

backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty. Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying

certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties

including fines and/or imprisonment.

Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of

federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

Specific Instructions

Name

If you are an individual, you must generally enter the name shown on your income tax return. However, if you have changed your last name, for instance, due to marriage without informing the Social Security Administration of the name change, enter your first name, the last name shown on your social security card, and your new last name.

If the account is in joint names, list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of the form.

Sole proprietor. Enter your individual name as shown on your income

tax return on the “Name” line. You may enter your business, trade, or

“doing business as (DBA)” name on the “Business name/disregarded

entity name” line.

Partnership, C Corporation, or S Corporation. Enter the entity's name

on the “Name” line and any business, trade, or “doing business as (DBA) name” on the “Business name/disregarded entity name” line.

Disregarded entity. Enter the owner's name on the “Name” line. The

name of the entity entered on the “Name” line should never be a disregarded entity. The name on the “Name” line must be the name shown on the income tax return on which the income will be reported. For example, if a foreign LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes has a domestic owner, the domestic owner's name is required to be provided on the “Name” line. If the direct owner of the entity is also a disregarded entity, enter the first owner that is not disregarded for federal tax purposes. Enter the disregarded entity's name on the “Business name/disregarded entity name” line. If the owner of the disregarded entity is a foreign person, you must complete an appropriate Form W-8.

Note. Check the appropriate box for the federal tax classification of the

person whose name is entered on the “Name” line (Individual/sole proprietor, Partnership, C Corporation, S Corporation, Trust/estate).

Limited Liability Company (LLC). If the person identified on the

Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2011) Page

3

Other entities. Enter your business name as shown on required federal

tax documents on the “Name” line. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. You may enter any business, trade, or DBA name on the “Business name/ disregarded entity name” line.

Exempt Payee

If you are exempt from backup withholding, enter your name as described above and check the appropriate box for your status, then check the “Exempt payee” box in the line following the “Business name/ disregarded entity name,” sign and date the form.

Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding. Corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, such as interest and dividends.

Note. If you are exempt from backup withholding, you should still

complete this form to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding.

The following payees are exempt from backup withholding:

1. An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2),

2. The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, 3. A state, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities,

4. A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or

5. An international organization or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.

Other payees that may be exempt from backup withholding include: 6. A corporation,

7. A foreign central bank of issue,

8. A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States,

9. A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission,

10. A real estate investment trust,

11. An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940,

12. A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a), 13. A financial institution,

14. A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian, or

15. A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947.

The following chart shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 15.

IF the payment is for . . . THEN the payment is exempt for . . .

Interest and dividend payments All exempt payees except for 9

Broker transactions Exempt payees 1 through 5 and 7 through 13. Also, C corporations. Barter exchange transactions and

patronage dividends Exempt payees 1 through 5 Payments over $600 required to be

reported and direct sales over $5,000 1

Generally, exempt payees 1 through 7 2

1

See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and its instructions. 2

However, the following payments made to a corporation and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys' fees, gross proceeds paid to an attorney, and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency.

Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and

you do not have and are not eligible to get an SSN, your TIN is your IRS

individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it in the social

security number box. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to get a TIN

below.

If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN. However, the IRS prefers that you use your SSN.

If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (see Limited Liability Company (LLC) on page 2), enter the owner’s SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). Do not enter the disregarded entity’s EIN. If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entity’s EIN.

Note. See the chart on page 4 for further clarification of name and TIN

combinations.

How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately.

To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security

Card, from your local Social Security Administration office or get this

form online at www.ssa.gov. You may also get this form by calling

1-800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer

Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for

Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can apply for

an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at www.irs.gov/businesses

and clicking on Employer Identification Number (EIN) under Starting a

Business. You can get Forms W-7 and SS-4 from the IRS by visiting

IRS.gov or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, write “Applied For” in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, generally you will have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester.

Note. Entering “Applied For” means that you have already applied for a

TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon.

Caution: A disregarded domestic entity that has a foreign owner must

use the appropriate Form W-8.

Part II. Certification

To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if item 1, below, and items 4 and 5 on page 4 indicate otherwise.

For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). In the case of a disregarded entity, the person identified on the “Name” line must sign. Exempt payees, see

Exempt Payee on page 3.

Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in

items 1 through 3, below, and items 4 and 5 on page 4.

1. Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983.

You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the

certification.

2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If

you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing

your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the

certification before signing the form.

3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may

Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2011) Page

4

4. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not

have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you

have previously given an incorrect TIN. “Other payments” include

payments made in the course of the requester’s trade or business for

rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and

health care services (including payments to corporations), payments to

a nonemployee for services, payments to certain fishing boat crew

members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations).

5. Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You

must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.

What Name and Number To Give the Requester

For this type of account: Give name and SSN of:

1. Individual The individual

2. Two or more individuals (joint

account) The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first

individual on the account 1

3. Custodian account of a minor

(Uniform Gift to Minors Act) The minor

2

4. a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee) b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law

The grantor-trustee 1

The actual owner 1

5. Sole proprietorship or disregarded

entity owned by an individual The owner

3

6. Grantor trust filing under Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 1 (see Regulation section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(A))

The grantor*

For this type of account: Give name and EIN of:

7. Disregarded entity not owned by an

individual The owner

8. A valid trust, estate, or pension trust Legal entity 4

9. Corporation or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 or Form 2553

The corporation 10. Association, club, religious,

charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization

The organization

11. Partnership or multi-member LLC The partnership

12. A broker or registered nominee The broker or nominee

13. Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments

The public entity

14. Grantor trust filing under the Form 1041 Filing Method or the Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 2 (see Regulation section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(B))

The trust

1

List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one personon a joint account has an SSN, that person’s number must be furnished.

2

Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s SSN.

3

You must show your individual name and you may also enter your business or “DBA” name on the “Business name/disregarded entity” name line. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one),but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN.

4

List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TINof the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated inthe account title.) Also see Special rules for partnershipson page 1.

*Note. Grantor also must provide a Form W-9 to trustee of trust.

Note. If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the

number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.

Secure Your Tax Records from Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, social security number (SSN), or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.

To reduce your risk: • Protect your SSN,

• Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and • Be careful when choosing a tax preparer.

If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter.

If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft but you think you are at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 1-800-908-4490 or submit Form 14039.

For more information, see Publication 4535, Identity Theft Prevention and Victim Assistance.

Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a system problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059.

Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes.

Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to

mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act

is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established

legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering

private information that will be used for identity theft.

The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.

If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to [email protected]. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at: [email protected] or contact them at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 1-877-IDTHEFT

(1-877-438-4338).

Visit IRS.gov to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.

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